At 2,307 m, Mount Yokote (Yokote-yama) is the high point of the Shiga Kogen ski area and one of the easiest big-mountain viewpoints in Japan. From the roadside you ride the Skylator — an outdoor moving walkway — and then a chairlift to the summit, where a hut with a bakery and an observation deck look west to the Northern Alps. On the clearest days Mount Fuji and the Sea of Japan are said to be visible.
Just beyond is Shibu Pass (Shibu-toge), where Route 292 crosses from Nagano into Gunma Prefecture at 2,172 m — the highest point on any national road in Japan. The road, known as the Shiga–Kusatsu Highland Route, is closed by snow from about mid-November to late April.
Top things to do: Mount Yokote & Shibu Pass
Ride up for the view
In the green season the Skylator and summit lift run through the day; the round trip takes well under an hour, but allow time on top. Late afternoon can bring a sea of clouds in the valleys and a sunset over the Alps.
Eat at the summit bakery
The Yokoteyama Summit Hütte bakes its own bread at 2,307 m and is known for serving it with borscht — welcome on a cold day. It styles itself Japan’s highest bakery.
See frost-covered trees in winter
From January to March the firs near the summit are plastered with rime ice, the juhyo or “snow monsters”. Skiers reach them on the Yokoteyama lifts; non-skiers can usually buy a sightseeing lift ticket.
How to get there
- Green season: buses run from Yudanaka via Hasuike towards Yokoteyama and Shibu Pass on a limited timetable; a car or tour gives far more freedom.
- Winter: the road is open from the Nagano side as far as the Yokoteyama ski area, with ski buses from Hasuike. The pass itself and the road down to Kusatsu are closed.
- From Kusatsu Onsen: in summer you can drive over the pass from Gunma, when the road is open — it also closes at times because of volcanic activity at Mount Kusatsu-Shirane.
Insider tips
- The summit can be 15 °C colder than Yudanaka and windy. Take a jacket in any month.
- Check lift operating days before you go; the Skylator and summit lift pause between seasons.
- Cloud often builds by midday in summer. Morning gives the best chance of a long view.
Best tours & tickets: Mount Yokote & Shibu Pass
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Mount Yokote & Shibu Pass and the rest of the Yamanouchi area:
Private nature tour from US$189 Nagano: UNESCO Nature, Autumn Colours & Local Highlights Tour
The green-season alternative to the monkeys: a guided day in the Shiga Kogen UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with a walk through highland forest to the vivid Onuma Pond, local specialities to taste and photos from your guide.
- Walk to the emerald Onuma Pond in Shiga Kogen
- Highland air in summer, vivid colours in autumn
- Local food stops and transfers included
Private day tour from US$191 Snow Monkeys & Ghibli-like Onsen Town with Free Time to Explore
A relaxed private day built around the two places that make Yamanouchi special: the monkey park and the old wooden bath town of Shibu Onsen, with time to wander on your own, a visit to a local brewery and lunch chosen to suit you.
- Snow monkeys with a private guide and car
- Free time in the lanes of Shibu Onsen
- Local brewery visit and a tailored lunch
